Fermented Alfalfa Meal Instead of "Grain-Type" Feedstuffs in the Diet Improves Intestinal Health Related Indexes in Weaned Pigs.

ABSTRACT: Corn and soybean meal are the two main components in formula feed of farm animals, leading to a serious food competition between humans and livestock. An alternative may be to encourage the utilization of unconventional feedstuff in animal diet. In the current study, we evaluated the utilization of fermented alfalfa meal (FAM) in weaned pigs. Twenty weaned piglets (separately caged) were randomly divided into two groups. Pigs in the control group (CON) were fed corn-soybean meal diet, and part of corn and soya protein concentrate in the diet of another group was replaced by 8% FAM. After 40 days of feeding, the average feed intake of FAM pigs was increased (P > 0.05), and the villus height (VH) of jejunum and duodenum, crypt depth (CD), and VH/CD in FAM pigs was improved compared to

SUBMITTER: Luo Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8710769 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature